This, along with a few other things in this recent storyline, has made me feel like Spike’s taking some influence from Achewood (and mainly putting it in Val). Whether or not this is true is irrelevant, but if it IS, I would be pretty pleased. Either way, this particular storyline is really shining for me, just loving it!

The middle panel freak-out made me laugh out loud in real life, it works so well. Especially as this comic lacks the usual “comic effects” (think superhero comics), that this one panel sticks out (positively) from the rest. Hyperactive nervous hands couldn’t be depicted better. :-)

The more I read Val, the more I hear his words in a thick southern drawl.

This -may- have to do with most of the locals around here (Southern Florida) having accents thicker than the immigrants they wail are taking over the country. Statistically, it’s a city. Strictly speaking, it’s a rest stop for people going anywhere but here.
(What follows is both a phoneticization of local dialect and the unfortunate truth about my ‘home town’. Grammar-friends, ye not wanted here.)

How the fuck he like a bird- I love the accents of people in Templar. Reagan speaks with as many apostrophes as possible, and Ben started doing it too, and now Valentine has the most lovely accent. You gunna love this shit!